Renewable Energy for Businesses
In recent years, many companies have focused on renewable energy, achieving significant savings economically and contributing to environmental protection. Today, sustainability is a very sensitive issue, particularly for the younger generations but also for large companies, which can have a significant economic and environmental impact.
The BloombergNEF Report
According to the Energy Transition Investment Trends 2023 report by BloombergNEF, a data production company focused on energy economics, 2022 saw a 31% increase in investments for the energy transition compared to 2021. This marks the first time that the use of renewable energy is close to matching the use of fossil fuels. Renewable energy sources include solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal power.
The Renewable Energy Takeover
Both governments and companies are heading in the same direction—towards sustainable change. Among the most active countries are Scandinavian and Northern European nations, along with the United States. However, Italy is also moving in the same direction. According to the European Electricity Review from last year, renewable energy now accounts for 22% of total energy production, with green energy production surpassing fossil fuel generation for the first time.
A key factor in this shift has been the widespread adoption of solar power, with a record production of 39 TWh of energy. Other reports highlight that in recent years, approximately 40,000 plants have been installed in the agricultural sector, producing 2,844 GWh, while the secondary sector boasts over 50,000 plants with a gross energy production of nearly 13,000 GWh. In the tertiary sector, over 111,000 plants contribute an additional 5,000 GWh of gross energy.
Why Renewable Energy for Businesses Makes Sense
The benefits of using renewable energy for businesses are easy to understand. Installing clean energy systems allows companies to become energy-independent, utilizing potentially inexhaustible sources while becoming more competitive and meeting the sustainable goals set at the European level from 2021 to 2030.
Corporate Knights Rankings
Every year, Corporate Knights monitors the use of renewable energy by businesses and ranks the top 100 most eco-friendly companies worldwide. In 2023, companies that stand out for not only using green energy but also applying sustainability to their governance and social policies include Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc. (Portland, USA), Vestas Wind Systems A/S (Aarhus, Denmark), and Brambles Ltd (Sydney, Australia). These companies are also recognized for their positive impact on their communities and industry economies. Italy also has two companies in this ranking: ERG SpA and Intesa Sanpaolo, ranked 59th and 90th, respectively.
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